⇚ Format Kindle Download [ ⌥ What Is the Declaration of Independence? ] ⇟ Kindle Author Michael C Harris ∐ What Is the Declaration of Independence June 26, 1776, Philadelphia The June heat in Philadelphia was blistering Even before the sun came up, it was hot Thomas Jefferson of Virginia did his best to stay cool as he wrote in the room he had rented on Market Street He was writing a letter But it was no ordinary letter Along with Jefferson, important men from all thirteen American colonies had come to Philadelphia They planned to do something brave and dangerous The colonies were declaring their freedom from Great Britain They were going to create a new countrythe United States of America Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write a public letter to the British king listing all the reasons why people in America were rebelling Jefferson also wanted the letter to show other countries in Europe why this was the right decision for America It took Jeffersonwith help from othersonly a couple of weeks to finish one of the most important documents in history the Declaration of Independence Sending an announcement like thisa declarationmeant that the colonists in America would go to war The British army was large and powerful The colonists didnt even have an army The chances were slim that the Americans could win Many would certainly die And even if by some chance the colonists did win their freedom, could thirteen different colonies create a new country together For two weeks Jefferson worked on the Declaration of Independence He sat at the small desk that he had made by hand He wrote in ink on large sheets of paper with his quill pen Each day Jefferson would discuss the ideas for the declaration with some of the other men who had gathered in Philadelphia After these talks, Jefferson would sometimes tear up his most recent draft of the declaration and start over He wanted to get every word just right The declaration had to explain than why the colonies could no longer live under British rule More importantly, it had to tell the world what this new country hoped to stand for It would not have a king It would set up a government in which ordinary men decided the laws After the Declaration of Independence was finished, it was signed on July 4, 1776 It has become one of the most important statements of freedom It has inspired people around the globe to fight for their freedom as well Thomas Jefferson wrote, We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal This meant that this new United States would treat everyone the same Jefferson may not have realized how powerful those simple words would be for hundreds of years to come Chapter 1 A Battle for America After Columbus set foot in the New World in 1492, many European countries wanted to rule different parts of North America Great Britain, France, and Spain controlled almost the entire continent Great Britain had thirteen colonies along the east coast, where most settlers lived FranceGreat Britains great rivalhad the largest area of land, north and west of the colonies But not many settlers lived there Same with Spainit had a bigger chunk of land than Great Britain but with far fewer people In 1754, Great Britain tried to grab of North America by invading lands controlled by the French This led to a war known as the French and Indian War A young lieutenant colonel named George Washington served in the British army, fighting against the French Most American colonists wanted Great Britain to win the war with France And, after many years, it did Great Britain doubled the area of land it controlled During the war, many British soldiers were sent to America to fight That had been very costly King George III had to borrow massive amounts of money from other countries After winning the war, King George III had to pay back what he owed In the kings mind, he had been defending the American colonies against the French So he expected the colonies to help with the war debt This angered people in America It wasnt the colonists idea to start the war It had been fought because the king wanted land So why should Americans have to pay King George III didnt listen to that argument The British governmentcalled Parliamenttaxed the American colonists heavily to pay for the war debts The American colonists had no one representing them in Parliament It met in London, than three thousand miles away and across the Atlantic Ocean The colonists had no way to argue against the high taxes Did Parliament decide on all laws governing the colonies No There were local governments with men elected by their fellow colonists In Virginia, for example, there was the House of Burgesses However, none of these groups had much power In each colony, a royal governor made all the important decisions Whatever the governor decided should be the law was the law And he was appointed by the king So Great Britain always had the final say about all laws and taxes This got people in the colonies angry Very angry.Step back in time to the birth of America and meet the real life rebels who made this country free On a hot summer day near Philadelphia in 1776, Thomas Jefferson sat at his desk and wrote furiously until early the next morning He was drafting the Declaration of Independence, a document that would sever this country s ties with Britain and announce a new nationThe United States of America Colonists were willing to risk their lives for freedom, and the Declaration of Independence made that official Discover the true story of one of the most radical and uplifting documents in history and follow the action that fueled the Revolutionary War. The British are frantically Googling what the EU is Dec , The whole world reeling after a milestone referendum in Britain to leave European Union And although leaders of campaign exit Europe crowing over their victory, it seems many AR Is Different What I Learned Treating Parkland A year ago, when gunman opened fire at Fort Lauderdale airport with mm semiautomatic handgun, hitting people seconds, was also on call Now Time Talk About We Are Actually Talking Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie race, identity politics, misogyny, media, and our moral duty election Donald Trump What s Harm This list topics which we have found stories where lack critical thinking has caused unnecessary harm, death, injury, hospitalizations, major financial loss or other damages This Life Without Retirement Savings Looks Like Many seniors stuck lives never ending work fate that could befall millions coming decades Gift Tongues San Antonio Catholic Straight about gift tongues may strike you as something exotic, ecstatic utterly mysterious Yet modern Christians tell Russian Order Friendship, why does Rex President Vladimir Putin, center, ExxonMobil head Tillerson shake hands signing ceremony an agreement state controlled oil company Rosneft Black Sea port Talent Overrated Really Separates World Class Geoff Colvin, Fortune senior editor large, one America most respected journalists He lectures widely regular lead moderator for Global Forum frequent television guest, Colvin appears daily CBS Radio Network, reaching seven million listeners each week GDPR, its requirements facts CSO Online General Data Protection Regulation GDPR need know stay compliant regulation requires businesses protect personal data privacy citizens MTHFR Basics recently heard term used same sentence paper believe had this before realized describing measurementMichael C Hall Wikipedia Michael Carlyle born February American actor best known his roles Dexter Morgan, serial killer blood spatter analyst Showtime series David Fisher HBO drama Six Feet UnderIn IMDb Raleigh, North Carolina, Janice Styons guidance counselor, William Hall, who worked IBM graduate NYU Master Fine Arts program acting Burgess Clifton December Republican member United States House Representatives representing Texas th congressional districtIn he defeated Scott Armey, son Majority Leader then CT Harris Company Chartered Accountants Welcome CT Accountants Financial Planning Our commitment motto Shared Knowledge, Success means your success business delivers personalised accounting, financial, advisory services tailored unique challenges clients face Abby Martin Personal Tribute Investigative Journalist Apr Abby gives heartfelt tribute investigative journalist former LAPD detective, Ruppert, highlighting career from exposing CIA drug trafficking groundbreaking Kator, Parks, Weiser Harris, PLLC Washington, DC Law Kator, PLLC, based law firm civil practice employment law, special concentration involving Federal employeesOur lawyers extensive experience workers courts, MSPB, EEOC, individual cases class actions Record view Voters owed answers departure Tories those sexually suggestive text messages since They took no action let run again provincial Symmetry Spectroscopy An Introduction Vibrational Symmetry Electronic Dover Books Chemistry Daniel D Bertolucci FREE shipping qualifying offers authors use informal but highly effective writing style present uniform consistent treatment subject matter Journal Chemical Education IThe primary Heavens War Micah As moves toward global war, secret angelic battle waged heavenly realms determine mankind infamous Aleister Crowley plans manipulate struggles thus shape according will Innocence Cases Death Penalty Information Center Samuel Poole Carolina Conviction Charges Dismissed After being convicted first degree burglary given mandatory death sentence, conviction overturned by NC Supreme Court because case lacked substantial evidence Homepage Harris Western Canada largest workplace advocacy provide practical advice creative solutions ROGERS HARRIS, Attorneys Law ROGERS HARRIS Established Civil trial all State Courts Real Property Entertainment Corporation Estate Trusts Probate michael harris partner Rogers Born London, England, October admitted bar California US Country Music News, New Songs, Videos, Shows Get latest music news, watch video clips shows, events, exclusive performances favorite artists Discover new country CMT Harris County Tax Office September Rate Notice Flood Control District Port Houston Authority What Is the Declaration of Independence?